Ductor roller control for printing presses



June 4, 1940.

F. ZABLOCKI DUCTOR ROLLER CDNTROL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 2'7,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 4, 1940. F. ZABLOCKI 2,203,070

DUCTOR ROLLER CONTROL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 27, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 In ven for F zai/oc/r/ By fizmaai izu.

A tiorneys Patented .lune 4, T940 PATENT OFFICE DUCTOR ROLLER CONTROLFOR PRINTING PRESSES Frank Zablocki, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1938, Serial No. 216,136

4 Claims.

This invention relates to ductor roller controls for printing pressesand has for the primary object the provision of a device of thischaracter which may be easily and quickly installed on a 5 printingpress without alterations thereto and which through a positive controlof the ductor roller a more uniform color of printing may be had.

Another object of this invention is the provi- 10 sion of an automaticbrake means to prevent rotation of the ductor roller when free of theink roller of the press and the fountain roller to vention consists incertain novel features of con- 20 struction, combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter more fully 7 described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,

reference is to be had to the following descrip- 25 tion andaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevationshowing a portion of a printing press with the ductor roller thereofequipped with an attachment constructed in accordance with my invention.30 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the attachment.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation illustrating a cou- 35 pling pin.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a brake shoe head.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the brake shoe before being attached to thehead. Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I indicates afragmentary portion of a printing press wherein the reciprocal ink tableis indicated by the character II and which is adapted to move backwardand forward with respect to the press. The character 12 indicates an inkdistributor roller fed by ink from an ink fountain 13 through thecooperation of a fountain roller l4 and a ductor roller I mounted on thepress for movement from the roller M to the distributor roller l2. It isto be understood that the ductor roller 15 has a swinging movementbetween the rollers l4 and I2 when the table II is on one of itsreciprocal strokes. The fountain roller I4 is operated in a step by stepmovement through a suitable ratchet mechanism IS. The foregoing gives abrief description of a part of a printing press to which the presentinvention is adapted.

When the ductor roller l5 moves out of contact with the distributorroller l2 and table II it will 5 rotate under momentum and if rotatingwhen contacting with the fountain roller. l4 an ununiform distributionof ink will be brought about and consequently the printing in color willnot be uniform. The present invention will automatically stop therotation of the roller during its movement away from the distributorroller [2 and table II so that when it contacts the fountain roller l4it will be substantially idle so that the ductor roller will always pickup ink where'it left off on its previous movement or operation. a a

The present invention is in the form of a brake and is indicated inentirety by the character I 'l and is somounted on the bed of the pressID that it may have a universal movement so as to readily follow themovement of the ductor roller and may be readily disconnected from theshaft of the ductor roller when desired, the shaft being indicated bythe character I8. The brake l'l consists of a cylinder or casing I9having a closed end 20 in which is formed a bore 2! acting as a guidefor a rod 22 equipped at one end with a head 23 and having its other endportion provided with screw threads 24. The head 23 seats in a socket 25formed in a brake shoe head 26. Opposed parallel arms 2'! are formed onthe head 26 and have bolted or otherwise secured thereto a cylindricalbrake shoe 28 constructed of leather or any other material suitable forthe purpose. The brake shoe fits about the shaft l8 of the ductor rollerl5, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

An adjusting nut 29 is pinnedto the rod 22, as shown at 30, and has aknurled face 3| engaged by a spring finger 32 carried by the casing I9to prevent accidental rotation of the adjusting nut.

A block 32' is threaded on the rod 22 and carries a set screw 33slidable in a slot 34 formed in the casing or cylinder IS. The set screwprevents rotation of the block with the rotation of the rod 22 and formsa seat for one end of a coil spring 35. The rotation of the rod 22 inopposite directions by the adjusting nut 29 will bring about slidingmovement of the block 32 in opposite directions which brings about anadjustment of the spring 35 to increase and decrease its tension. Theother end of the'spring 35 seats against the closed end 20 of thecylinder or casing l9. A universal joint 35 is secured on one end of thecylinder or casing and has a threaded shank 3? adapted to be threadedinto an opening provided on the bed or frame of the printing press. Careshould be taken in locating this invention on the frame of the printingpress, so that the universal joint 36 will be located adjacent to and tothe right of the pivot 31 of the ductor roller supporting arm 34, asshown in Figure 1 of the drawings, so that the ductor roller IE onmoving into a position substantially contacting the fountain roller id,said ductor roller It will be closer to the universal joint 36 than whenin any position further away from the fountain roller M- which willreduce the tension on the spring 35 and thereby bring about the removalof the braking action on the ductor roller, permitting the latter tohave free rotation when in contact with the fountain roller Id.

In operation, the printing press is set to running in the usual mannerand with the invention properly adjusted and adapted to the shaft N3 ofthe ductor roller, the latter will have applied thereto a braking actionas it travels between the distributing roller I2 and the fountain roller14. As the ductor roller moves in close proximity to the fountain rollerM the braking action is automatically released so that the ductor rollerwill be free to rotate when it comes in contact with roller M. It is tobe understood, the spring 35 is under tension when the ductor roller isin engagement with the table so that the brake shoe 28 will drag on theshaft l8 and thereby apply a desired braking action on the ductorroller. However, the ductor roller may rotate by its contact with themoving table under said braking action. As soon as the ductor rollerleaves the table its rotation is stopped by the braking action and thusheld until it nears the fountain roller M. As the ductor roller nearsthe fountain roller it moves closer to the pivot of this device whichreleases the tension of the spring and thereby stops the braking actionon said ductor roller so that the latter is free to rotate when incontact with the fountain roller. However, the braking action isrestored on the ductor roller as soon as it moves away from the fountainroller toward the distributing roller and the table. It is preferabe toadjust the braking action on the ductor roller while the press is inoperation which can be easily accomplished through the rotation of theadjusting nut 29 to increase and decrease the tension on the spring 35which controls the braking action on the ductor roller or the shaftthereof.

A device of the character described and shown in the drawings is simpleto install and economical to manufacture and can be readily adjustedwhile the press is in operation and one adjustment is sufficient for anentire printing job. Further, it is to be seen that the presentinvention practically occupies no room on the press and is clear of allthe working parts of the press. The present invention is adaptable toearly and late type models of printing presses, either of the singlecolor press type or the two color type.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connectionwith the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantagesof this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a devicerelates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim is:

1. A brakemechanism for a ductor roller mounted to swing about a fixedaxis, said brake mechanism comprising a cylinder pivotally mounted atone end adjacent said axis, a brake rod slidable in said cylinder andoperative under such sliding to impose braking action on the ductorroller, tension means in said cylinder tending to operate said rod, thepivotal mounting of said cylinder being located eccentrically of saidaxis whereby under swinging of said ductor,

roller in one direction the distance between said pivot and the ductorroller is shortened to relieve the braking action by the rod on saidductor roller andv thereby release the latter for free rotation.

2. A brake mechanism for a ductor roller mounted to swing about a fixedaxis, said brake mechanism comprising a member pivotally mountedadjacent said axis, a brake member for applying braking action on saidductor roller, spring means connecting said members and tending toactuate said brake member to apply braking action on the ductor roller,the pivotal mounting of said first member being located eccentrically ofsaid axis whereby under swinging of said ductor r'oller in one directionthe distance between said pivot and the ductor roller is shortened torelieve the tension on said spring and thereby release the brakingaction on the ductor roller and thereby release the latter for freerotation.

3. A brake mechanismfor a ductor roller mounted to swing about a fixedaxis, said brake mechanism mounted adjacent said axis, a brake memberfor applying braking action on said ductor roller, spring meansconnecting said members and tending to actuate said brake member toapply braking action on the ductor roller, the pivotal.

mounting of said first member being locatedeccentrically of said axiswhereby under swinging of said ductor roller in one directionthedistance between said pivot and the ductor roller is comprising amember pivotally;

shortened to relieve the tension on said spring and thereby release thebraking action on the ductor roller and thereby release the latter forjacent said axis, a brake member slidable in said cylinder, a brake shoecarried-by thebrake member to engage the ductor roller, a spring on;

said brake member, a nutthreaded on said-brake member and free to slidein said cylinder and-- held against rotation relative thereto andforminga seat for one end of said spring and theother end of said springseatingagainst said cylinder, said spring tending to actuate the brakemember toapply braking action on the ductor roller, said universal joint beinglocated eccentrically of said axis whereby on swinging of said ductorroller in one direction the distance between said universal joint andthe ductor rolleris shortened to relieve the tension on said spring andtherebyrelieve the braking action onthe ductor roller and therebyrelease the latter-for.

free rotation.

FRANK ZABLOCK-I.

